Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-22
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
MYSTERIOUS MURDER.
A Merchant of Folsom Found Shot Down
in the Street in This City

A Merchant of Folsom Found Shot Down
in the Street in This City.
About five or seven minutes to 8 last
evening j. r. Watson, who was at his resi-.
dence at Eighth and F streets, heard a Dis.
toll shot and a sbriek-as if of woman
in the immediate vicinity of his premises
and some young men sitting outside of the
grocery on the corner of Eighth and G
streets also heard the shot, and one saw
the flash of the discharge. Those at the
grocery fastened to the locality where the
shot was fired and found the body of q
man lying almost in the center of Eighth
street little nearer the sidewalk on the
east side, and about 100 feet from street,
1t was lying on its back, the arms out
stretched, and the left leg doubled beneath
it. The right knee of the pants was split.
Deceased's stiff hat was on his head. but
down over the eyes his overcoat was but.
toned up, and his hands gloved. each
glove turned down a little at the top.
No one was seen in the vicinity, nor had
there been any loud language heard prior
to the shot. The locality where the shoot
ing took place is very dark, however, owing
to the large trees, and the murderer could
have easily escaped unseen through the
alley. 1t was supposed, under the circum-
stances, that it was case of suicide. and
Messrs. Crone, Sermonat and CASTOR went
to the Coroners Office and reported what
they had seen and what they believed.
Deputy Coroner Clark Immediately went
after the body and conveyed it to his office,
prior to which a search for weapons was
made III the vicinity, but none found.
When the clothing was being removed a
very large pistol bullet. such as is fired from
pistols of the largest caliber, dropped
from between the vest and shirt !;
and on examination it was discovered
that the unfortunate man had been
shot in the back, the bullet entering the
right side, near the bottom of the shoulder
blade, and coming out through the left
breast, near the center of the body and
about two inches above the nipple. The
only articles found upon the person were
small cloth bag, such as are used in doing
up packages of coin, and which contained
81 50; purse containing dime; hotel
room key, No. %, with diamond-shaped
tag attached; and several receipts showing
that j. f. Klumpp had that day paid bills
at Lindley & Co.'S, Wood & Co, and Hop
kins & Bros, for goods in considerable
quantity. There was no watch nor chain.
known merchant of Folsom, hear
ing of the circumstances, called at
the Coroner's and identified the body.
The deceased was native of Germany, So
years of age, and came to this county from
Monterey county some twelve years ago.
For several years he conducted bakery in
the town of Folsom in connection with a
beer saloon. About two years ago he Quit
the liquor business and commenced keep
ing grocery and notion store. He bore a
good name, was honest sober and indus
trious, Past Grand of the Lodge of Odd
Fellows and Past Patriarch of the Encamp-
ment at Folsom. He was also a member
of the Lodge of United Workman
Some four or five years ago he
married Miss Miller, an estimable
young lady who had been reared in that
town and by whom he had two children
The police have been working upon the
case since the fact that murder had been
committed was discovered, but as yet are
utterly without clue upon which to work
Captain Karcher and officer Frazee left for
Folsom shortly after midnight 10 see the
deceased's brother and endeavor to ascer-
tain from him something that may serve
as a starting point. AT present the only
thing known besides the facts given above
is that the grass at the edge of the sidewalk
near where the body was found was crushed
down as though one or more persons had
been sitting near one of the trees.
Deceased was stopping at the New Will
lam Tell House. where he usually put up
He arrived there yesterday, and paid for
his room, saying that he intended to leave
early in the morning He left the hotel
last evening about half-past s, and was
found dead before Q.